Key Findings: Wealth in America Survey

Recently, Northern Trust launched a survey of 1,700 wealthy households across the U.S. to understand what is important to them. The results provide insights into high-net-worth individuals: top goals, concerns about the economy, investing and charitable giving behaviors.

Goals are important, but since family discussions about wealth and financial goals are difficult they do not occur as regularly as they should.

81% of investors say that life goals are an important component of financial planning.

They cite their top four financial goals as protecting wealth, assuring retirement lifestyle, minimizing taxes and leaving an estate to their heirs.

Their top life goals are having good health, traveling the world and achieving financial success.

Investment diversification is the most common action investors have taken to help achieve their goals followed by saving more and working with a financial advisor.

Despite the importance of goals, many couples say they discuss vacation plans more frequently than financial plans.